Pre-Thanks
“Not a mention whose small Pebble
Wrinkled any Sea,
Unto such, were such Assembly,
’Twere “Thanksgiving day””
22 Nov 2023 Boulder Valley Ranch A full crew of BNO hikers met this afternoon at a bustling Boulder Valley Ranch trailhead, in what’s become an annual tradition: to burn a few calories in preparation for the morrow’s feasting and gratitude. D and S were joined by the M family (D2, C, Fortran, and R), a few hundred prairie dogs, some cows, and a herd of fellow hikers on bikes, horses, and foot.
A goodly day for it, weather-wise, with temps in the low 60s and, remarkably, no wind. The pond 180° around the loop held thoughtful reflections, as did the minds of our fearless adventurers. Or so we imagine.
It’s more likely the crew were focused on completing the circumnavigation and procuring a post-hike brownie.
Eventually the intrepid explorers returned to the trailhead without much mishap: no head-butts, rampaging cattle, nor herds of voracious prairie dogs.
Some birds flew across the sky.
Back at the trailhead, the weekly astronomy lecture people were assembling chairs and telescopes. Meanwhile, The BNO group packed their stuff, ate a brownie, and posed for a blurry photo in the fading sunset.
All in all, another successful BNO season. And that is cause enough for gratitude a-plenty.
